Li Wentian

Li Wentian

Li Wentian (1894-1951), male, Han nationality, with the character of canxuan, was born in xunxian County, Henan Province in 1894. He was the second rank General of the Kuomintang and the former deputy commander of the 33rd group army. He lost his father when he was young, and his life was very difficult. He was supported by his uncle's family. After graduating from high school, he was admitted to Baoding military academy and graduated from the sixth military training program.

Life of the characters

After joining the northwest army, he once served as the director, commander and brigade commander of Luanhe ordnance factory. After the failure of the northwest army, he insisted on training in Shanxi and supported song Zheyuan's reorganization of the 29th army. He was one of the eight key generals who built the 29th army together. At the beginning of the 29th army, Zhang Zizhong was one of the three brigade commanders of the 38th division. He was the deputy commander of the 38th division and the commander of the 2nd brigade.

When Zhang Zizhong was chairman of Chahar government, Li Wentian was vice chairman and security commander of provincial government.

When Zhang Zizhong was mayor of Tianjin, Li Wentian was commander of Tianjin police and director of public security. At the same time, he was also responsible for the military training of high school graduates. He personally told young students about the international situation and patriotism education, which influenced some progressive young people. Later, he joined in the Anti Japanese war. During his short term as director of public security, Li Wentian has taken a series of effective measures to rectify the police style and rectify the police administration, such as forbidding the police to beat and bully the people, forbidding to keep long hair, forbidding to go in and out of entertainment places in uniform, training police rescue knowledge, sincere communication between the police and the people, and clearing up a large number of accumulated cases. The purchase of fire-fighting and rescue facilities makes Tianjin police refreshing. Objectively, they also made some spiritual and material preparations in advance for the Anti Japanese war.

During Zhang Zizhong's visit to Japan from April to may in 1937, Li Wentian served as acting mayor of Tianjin.

After the July 7 Incident, the Japanese army mobilized their troops frantically, and local battles occurred frequently. However, the confrontation between the main fighters and the main peacekeepers in the 29th army was fierce, and the phantom of peace still enveloped North China.

On July 25, 1937, after Zhang Zizhong left Tianjin alone, Li Wentian was in charge of the military and political affairs in Tianjin. In the face of the situation at that time, he planned the battle of the 38th division ahead of time, requiring the 38th division's garrison stationed in Tanggu, Hangu, Langfang, Xiaozhan, dongdagu, Machang and hanjiashu to move closer to the city, concentrate and wait for orders. On July 27, song Zheyuan refused the Japanese army's "ultimatum" and issued a power to guard the territory. After receiving a telegram from Song Zheyuan, commander of the 29th army, Li Wentian immediately decided to fight against Japan. At his residence in Tianjin, he called Huang Weigang, brigade commander of No.112 brigade, Ning Dianwu, commander of Tianjin security corps, Qi Guangyuan, head of pistol regiment, Li Zhiyuan, brigade commander of No.26 independent brigade, and Ma Yanzhong, Secretary General of Tianjin municipal government to hold a meeting to convey song's telegram and decide to participate The 29th Canadian army fought against Japan. Li Wentian decided to take advantage of the fact that Japan's military strength has not yet increased greatly, attack it unprepared and quickly wipe out the Japanese army in the city. The participants unanimously elected Li Wentian as commander in chief and Liu jialuan as deputy commander in chief. All the officers and men of the 38th division were under the unified leadership of Li Wentian. And signed and issued the declaration of "bloody Anti Japanese War, no turning back" signed by the above seven people. Since 2:00 a.m. on July 29, the Tianjin Garrison has been causing heavy losses to the Japanese army, and even burned down the Japanese airport in Tianjin east bureau. Another force almost reached the Japanese garrison headquarters in haiguang temple. The fighting lasted only 15 hours. At about 3 p.m. on the 29th, Japanese reinforcements rushed to Tianjin, and enemy agents and traitors began to engage in activities. Li Wentian had to bear the pain and decided to withdraw. The Anti Japanese war in Tianjin not only caused heavy losses to the Japanese army, but also saved a strong brigade for the future anti Japanese war. Later, Li Wentian was appointed as the acting division commander of the 38th division by song Zheyuan. He led the whole division to the front line of Anti Japanese war in Hebei Province.

Later, the 38th division was upgraded to the 59th army, with song Zheyuan, commander of the first group army, as commander and Li Wentian as deputy commander. He played an important role in keeping the army intact and free from division.

Li Wentian always insisted on staying in the front line of the Anti Japanese War and led the officers and men of the 38th division to resist Japan until Zhang Zizhong returned. He was appointed to the 38th division. He played an important role in assisting Zhang Zizhong in the Taierzhuang campaign. In 1940, he and Zhang Zizhong jointly commanded the SuiZao campaign and Xiangfan campaign.

He served as deputy commander in chief of the 33rd group army from 1940 to 1946.

In 1947, he served as deputy commander of the third appeasement district. Unwilling to fight civil war, he left the army in 1948 and joined the army in the presidential palace. He died in 1951.

member of family

Son: Li Ping

Social evaluation

General Li Wentian has been in the army all his life. He is famous for his diligence and determination. Especially during the Anti Japanese War, he bravely killed the enemy and rushed ahead. He was wounded many times and did not flinch. He was a patriotic general deeply loved by the soldiers and the people.

Chinese PinYin : Li Wen Tian